News

Inspector backs Winchester Local Plan and 12,500 new homes

A PLANNING inspector has today backed Winchester’s blueprint for the next 20 years - opening the way for infill development in villages.

The city council Local Plan Part 1 has been found ‘sound’ by the Government inspector following the public inquiry in the Guildhall last autumn.

Inspector Nigel Payne concluded that the Plan, which will see 12,500 homes across the district up to 2031, “provides for a sustainable pattern of new development”.

James Cleary, managing director of Hursley-based Pro Vision Planning and Design, said: "It contains some large, strategic proposals including the allocation of Barton Farm but also frees up opportunities for new development in a range of smaller settlements where infill development had previously been ruled out."

Mr Payne supported the city council’s overall development strategy and approach to achieve sustainable communities across the Winchester District.

He has added some 500 homes to those proposed at Whiteley near Fareham.

His recommendations are binding and will now be put to the Cabinet and Council to allow final adoption of the first part of Winchester’s new Local Plan.

Taking into account houses completed, planning permissions granted and strategic allocations at Barton Farm, North Whiteley and West of Waterlooville, the Winchester district already has identified locations for 10,500 of its allocation just a couple of years into the 20-year plan period.

That leaves around 2,000 to find through Local Plan Part 2 which has recently started.

Rob Humby, deputy leader and portfolio holder for strategic planning for Winchester City Council, said: “I am delighted that the Inspector has found our Local Plan sound, one of only a handful across the country since the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework in March 2012.

“This will provide the certainty that the district needs to plan positively. It will ensure that the right amount and type of development is delivered so that the district remains prosperous.

“The Council has listened to its communities throughout the preparation of the plan and we now have a local plan that reflects local views, and which puts Winchester in control of its future.”

Mr Cleary said: "This is a big step forward for the district. The last Local Plan (adopted in 2006) was prepared in boom years after 2000 whilst this new Plan takes account of more recent government policy and the economic slowdown.

"Now the strategy is in place the focus will now shift towards the identification of sites to make up development land allocations needed in settlements such as Bishop’s Waltham, Alresford and Kings Worthy where a wide range of alternatives will be considered.”

He added: "While much of the Plan is 'business as usual' there are some significant changes in the council's policies on sustainable development, low to zero carbon development, affordable housing and design."

Comments (9)

Get building!!!! - say no to the Nimbys in their 1960s and 1970s houses - especially those in Weeke and Harestock happy to live in homes built on farmland in living memory but keen to deny people the chance at Barton Farm.

Get building!!!! - say no to the Nimbys in their 1960s and 1970s houses - especially those in Weeke and Harestock happy to live in homes built on farmland in living memory but keen to deny people the chance at Barton Farm.Yves1977

Yves1977 seems to have an issue with people caring about their local environment, avoiding over development in green areas, over crowding and congestion. Seeing how you seem to care so little about these issues, perhaps you should move to London, Manhattan or Tokyo? Your naivety is staggering, do you really think the developers care about sustainability and affordability more than than profit? It appears you have a chip on your shoulder, here's a tip - work harder, get a better job and buy a decent house in a nice area. Winchester is a special place and without more careful plans, will just become another Reading.

Yves1977 seems to have an issue with people caring about their local environment, avoiding over development in green areas, over crowding and congestion. Seeing how you seem to care so little about these issues, perhaps you should move to London, Manhattan or Tokyo? Your naivety is staggering, do you really think the developers care about sustainability and affordability more than than profit? It appears you have a chip on your shoulder, here's a tip - work harder, get a better job and buy a decent house in a nice area. Winchester is a special place and without more careful plans, will just become another Reading.Ruth Kelly

Ruth Kelly wrote:
Yves1977 seems to have an issue with people caring about their local environment, avoiding over development in green areas, over crowding and congestion. Seeing how you seem to care so little about these issues, perhaps you should move to London, Manhattan or Tokyo? Your naivety is staggering, do you really think the developers care about sustainability and affordability more than than profit? It appears you have a chip on your shoulder, here's a tip - work harder, get a better job and buy a decent house in a nice area. Winchester is a special place and without more careful plans, will just become another Reading.

Hear hear. I think Yves needs some counselling, it is like a broken record.

[quote][p][bold]Ruth Kelly[/bold] wrote:
Yves1977 seems to have an issue with people caring about their local environment, avoiding over development in green areas, over crowding and congestion. Seeing how you seem to care so little about these issues, perhaps you should move to London, Manhattan or Tokyo? Your naivety is staggering, do you really think the developers care about sustainability and affordability more than than profit? It appears you have a chip on your shoulder, here's a tip - work harder, get a better job and buy a decent house in a nice area. Winchester is a special place and without more careful plans, will just become another Reading.[/p][/quote]Hear hear. I think Yves needs some counselling, it is like a broken record.winchres

Ruth Kelly wrote:
Yves1977 seems to have an issue with people caring about their local environment, avoiding over development in green areas, over crowding and congestion. Seeing how you seem to care so little about these issues, perhaps you should move to London, Manhattan or Tokyo? Your naivety is staggering, do you really think the developers care about sustainability and affordability more than than profit? It appears you have a chip on your shoulder, here's a tip - work harder, get a better job and buy a decent house in a nice area. Winchester is a special place and without more careful plans, will just become another Reading.

Hear hear. I think Yves needs some counselling, it is like a broken record.

Why is Barton Farm overdevelopment, anymore than Weeke, Harestock or Badger Farm were 'overdevelopment'? It is daft to equate building on the farmland will be like Tokyo. BTW I have lived in very nice Winchester house (built in the 188os) since 1990!

[quote][p][bold]winchres[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Ruth Kelly[/bold] wrote:
Yves1977 seems to have an issue with people caring about their local environment, avoiding over development in green areas, over crowding and congestion. Seeing how you seem to care so little about these issues, perhaps you should move to London, Manhattan or Tokyo? Your naivety is staggering, do you really think the developers care about sustainability and affordability more than than profit? It appears you have a chip on your shoulder, here's a tip - work harder, get a better job and buy a decent house in a nice area. Winchester is a special place and without more careful plans, will just become another Reading.[/p][/quote]Hear hear. I think Yves needs some counselling, it is like a broken record.[/p][/quote]Why is Barton Farm overdevelopment, anymore than Weeke, Harestock or Badger Farm were 'overdevelopment'? It is daft to equate building on the farmland will be like Tokyo. BTW I have lived in very nice Winchester house (built in the 188os) since 1990!Yves1977

I have been reading through my Kelly's Winchester Directory 1967 and note that there were only 9 houses in Courtenay Road at that time and Abbotts Barton hadn't even been started and places like Badger Farm were just a twinkle in some developers eye.
I think that Yves 1977 makes some interesting points and if we could wind back the clock which estates would we decide were not good for Winchester. Many people feel that a lot of the post war development (1914-18 war of course) was less than satisfactory however as most Winchester residents live in these homes how do they view their properties?
I thought that London was considered to be one of the world's best cities and how many times I have heard Winchester residents saying that they would love to live in Knightsbridge but can't afford to and use the same argument to support no further development in Winchester saying that if you want to live here then save up.
Regarding Hackney, whilst I may agree with "no to 5000" I wonder what Diane Abbott MP would have to say, no doubt she would have a different view along with a few "hackotians (?)"

I have been reading through my Kelly's Winchester Directory 1967 and note that there were only 9 houses in Courtenay Road at that time and Abbotts Barton hadn't even been started and places like Badger Farm were just a twinkle in some developers eye.
I think that Yves 1977 makes some interesting points and if we could wind back the clock which estates would we decide were not good for Winchester. Many people feel that a lot of the post war development (1914-18 war of course) was less than satisfactory however as most Winchester residents live in these homes how do they view their properties?
I thought that London was considered to be one of the world's best cities and how many times I have heard Winchester residents saying that they would love to live in Knightsbridge but can't afford to and use the same argument to support no further development in Winchester saying that if you want to live here then save up.
Regarding Hackney, whilst I may agree with "no to 5000" I wonder what Diane Abbott MP would have to say, no doubt she would have a different view along with a few "hackotians (?)"iantait

Yves1977 wrote:
Get building!!!! - say no to the Nimbys in their 1960s and 1970s houses - especially those in Weeke and Harestock happy to live in homes built on farmland in living memory but keen to deny people the chance at Barton Farm.

What is your problem with Weeke or Harestock? Most of Weeke is/was Council housing now sold off at a discount. Most of Harestock was either Army, Police or smaller 'affordable' housing. You seem to have such an issue with these areas, I would agree it is awful knock it all down and return to greenfield so we can grow our own crops and care for our own livestock so we know we don't eat horse meat.

[quote][p][bold]Yves1977[/bold] wrote:
Get building!!!! - say no to the Nimbys in their 1960s and 1970s houses - especially those in Weeke and Harestock happy to live in homes built on farmland in living memory but keen to deny people the chance at Barton Farm.[/p][/quote]What is your problem with Weeke or Harestock? Most of Weeke is/was Council housing now sold off at a discount. Most of Harestock was either Army, Police or smaller 'affordable' housing. You seem to have such an issue with these areas, I would agree it is awful knock it all down and return to greenfield so we can grow our own crops and care for our own livestock so we know we don't eat horse meat.winchres

Look at an ariel map of Winchester - it's like a pizza with a lovely slice of green coming almost into the city centre. I've lived in many places including Hackney so I know how precious that bit of countryside is - how much it is good for the mental health of residents in particular. I also have much experience of developers and they cannot be trusted because obviously they have different priorities. For a city of 40,000 to potentially add another 6-10,000 residents (2,000 homes on Barton Farm) without the proper resources seems insane. It's too late now anyway but I suggest Yves1977 stops trying to wind everybody up and stops saying 'get building!!!!' and calling people who care 'Nimbys'. It's those 'Nimbys' who might get some concessions to minimise the impact on all the people that live in this city.
For the record, if it was 100% low-cost or social housing I might feel quite differently. It would be very interesting to see how many of these homes go to people from Winchester/Eastleigh
/
Southampton etc and how many go to commuters moving from London who can afford to buy them.
I came from London after selling my flat and having looked at cities/towns all over Hampshire, Winchester was the outstanding choice for many reasons but including how green it was. Maybe if you are a long term resident you don't realise exactly what you are losing? Hopefully you won't regret it too much when it's gone.

Look at an ariel map of Winchester - it's like a pizza with a lovely slice of green coming almost into the city centre. I've lived in many places including Hackney so I know how precious that bit of countryside is - how much it is good for the mental health of residents in particular. I also have much experience of developers and they cannot be trusted because obviously they have different priorities. For a city of 40,000 to potentially add another 6-10,000 residents (2,000 homes on Barton Farm) without the proper resources seems insane. It's too late now anyway but I suggest Yves1977 stops trying to wind everybody up and stops saying 'get building!!!!' and calling people who care 'Nimbys'. It's those 'Nimbys' who might get some concessions to minimise the impact on all the people that live in this city.
For the record, if it was 100% low-cost or social housing I might feel quite differently. It would be very interesting to see how many of these homes go to people from Winchester/Eastleigh
/
Southampton etc and how many go to commuters moving from London who can afford to buy them.
I came from London after selling my flat and having looked at cities/towns all over Hampshire, Winchester was the outstanding choice for many reasons but including how green it was. Maybe if you are a long term resident you don't realise exactly what you are losing? Hopefully you won't regret it too much when it's gone.Ruth Kelly

Yves1977 wrote:
Get building!!!! - say no to the Nimbys in their 1960s and 1970s houses - especially those in Weeke and Harestock happy to live in homes built on farmland in living memory but keen to deny people the chance at Barton Farm.

What is your problem with Weeke or Harestock? Most of Weeke is/was Council housing now sold off at a discount. Most of Harestock was either Army, Police or smaller 'affordable' housing. You seem to have such an issue with these areas, I would agree it is awful knock it all down and return to greenfield so we can grow our own crops and care for our own livestock so we know we don't eat horse meat.

I have no problem with Weeke or Harestock. My point is that many of the residents in Weeke and Harestock oppose BF. Yet their homes were on farmland until 30-50 years ago. Was Winchester ruined when Weeke and Harestock were built? No. will Winchester be ruined if BF is built? No.

[quote][p][bold]winchres[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Yves1977[/bold] wrote:
Get building!!!! - say no to the Nimbys in their 1960s and 1970s houses - especially those in Weeke and Harestock happy to live in homes built on farmland in living memory but keen to deny people the chance at Barton Farm.[/p][/quote]What is your problem with Weeke or Harestock? Most of Weeke is/was Council housing now sold off at a discount. Most of Harestock was either Army, Police or smaller 'affordable' housing. You seem to have such an issue with these areas, I would agree it is awful knock it all down and return to greenfield so we can grow our own crops and care for our own livestock so we know we don't eat horse meat.[/p][/quote]I have no problem with Weeke or Harestock. My point is that many of the residents in Weeke and Harestock oppose BF. Yet their homes were on farmland until 30-50 years ago. Was Winchester ruined when Weeke and Harestock were built? No. will Winchester be ruined if BF is built? No.Yves1977